Colleen Conner Allison

Colleen Conner Allison died on Friday-August 18, 2017 in her home after a battle with familial ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  She was 64.

 Mrs. Allison was born on May 5, 1953 in the Washington Hospital to the late Neil Reed Conner and Patricia Walton Conner. She had two sisters; Marcia Lynne who died in infancy and Janice Claire, who survives.

 Also surviving is her husband of 35 years, William Tucker Allison, Jr. whom she married on May 1, 1982; as well as a nephew, Tucker Rainey of Los Angeles and a niece, Rebecca Rainey of Berlin, Germany.  She also leaves behind a cat named Snoop who occasionally acknowledged her existence.

 She spent most of her life in Washington, graduating from Trinity High School in 1971. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Rosary Hill College in Amherst, New York and a Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

 Mrs. Allison spent her entire professional career at the Washington Health System, beginning in 1976. In 1989, she became part of the senior leadership group; retiring as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality in March 2017.  She was a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and served on several regional and state wide committees relating to health care. In the past, she mentored several graduate students for the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business’s Entrepreneurial Fellows Program.

 In the community, Mrs. Allison served as chairman of the board of the former Visiting Nurses Association of Washington County and chairman of the board of the United Way of Washington County. She was a former Elder/trustee of the First Presbyterian Church in Washington and most recently served on the boards of the Washington Symphony Orchestra and Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

She loved to play golf, although she rarely played well. She preferred playing with friends who did not keep score. She enjoyed driving over the speed limit and cooking.  She was never afraid to serve guests something that she had not made before. She loved to knit and was an avid reader.

When she was diagnosed with ALS in November 2016, her family, caregivers and many friends and former coworkers formed an amazing support system. Their many kindnesses will never be forgotten and allowed her to maintain her sense of humor, wit, grace and courage until her death.

 Friends and family will be received on Monday-August 21, 2017 from 1 - 4 and 6 - 8 P.M. in the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Ave. Washington, S. Timothy Warco, Supervisor/Director, Susan Falvo Warco, Director, S. Timothy Warco II, Director.  A memorial service will be held on Tuesday-August 22, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Washington with the Rev. Dr. L. Stephen Smith Jr. and Pastor Gary Gibson co-officiating. Burial will be private and held at the convenience of the family in Washington Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Washington Health System Foundation, the Washington Symphony Orchestra, Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania, The ALS Association of Western Pennsylvania or the charity of one’s choice.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com